When did you start solids?

Mandi · December 14th, 2003, 09:01 AM

Just curious when everyone started solids? Melayna is 5 months old now and I still haven't started her on solids yet. I plan on holding out until she's 6 months old. I'm bf'ing this time and things are going so well I don't see a need to push solids yet.

We're going to Indiana to visit family for Xmas and I already know I"m going to hear comments from my Aunt about how she should already be eating solids. She runs a daycare and thinks that all kids should start on cereal by 3 months.

I know I'll have to jusitfy my reasoning to her which is going to tick me off.

britt · December 14th, 2003, 11:35 AM

My first started on solids at 4 months.. my second will probably be the same. But who knows.. McKenna eats alot more than Marissa did so it may be sooner..

But I think what ever works for you is the way to go!

That ticks me off that people seem to think that they can tell you how to raise your child.. you'd think you know what you are doing.. seeing as how you have two.

Hope your trip goes with out any flack!

kris10 · December 14th, 2003, 12:20 PM

I agree with Britt. You'll know when your baby is ready. Kenna was eating 8 oz bottles every 2 hours at 3 months!

So we put her on cereal but if she hadn't I probably would have held off for a few more months. Most importantly do what you're comfortable with.

KeriS · December 14th, 2003, 02:18 PM

Davis started solids at 4 months at the advice of the ped -- because he was HUGE and BFing way too much for my comfort

You have to do what is right for YOUR child -- a lot of people are waiting longer to start solids and that is just fine!!

Nocona · December 14th, 2003, 02:57 PM

Matthew started at 4 months, but you know that he was a big ole boy.

If she's doing well on the BM and obviously she's gaining weight, it's not a big deal.

Faye · December 14th, 2003, 03:01 PM

I started Emily on cereal mixed with formula at 2 months old, but just a couple of spoonfuls a day, nothing major. She started baby food around 5-6 months old. Then was on table foods (what we were eating) half the time by age 9 months and baby food half the time. She was eating solids almost completely by a year old. I may have kept her on baby foods too long but I thought it was easier until that point.

LoriS · December 14th, 2003, 03:38 PM

We started My first on cereal juat after 3 months, but I think we will wait a little longer with Courtney. At her 2 month visit her ped said we would discuss it at her 4 month appointment.

Dennis · December 14th, 2003, 04:48 PM

We started Joe at 6 months.

Dennis

Cori · December 14th, 2003, 06:22 PM

I started Ally just shy of 4 months. I had people telling me to give her cereal at 2 and 3 weeks.

I just felt like screaming at them to SHUT UP. I eventually just started telling people that she was eating solids at night just to get them to leave me alone.

Marcella · December 14th, 2003, 08:10 PM

We started Amelia on cereal just over 5 months. My mom was driving me CRAZY about starting cereal when she was only 2 months!

Kim22 · December 14th, 2003, 11:35 PM

We started Sydney on cereal at 4 months, and fruits and veggies at 6 months. I'm going to do things differently next time, probably starting with something other than rice cereal (no nutrition in it).

scruzin · December 15th, 2003, 12:38 PM

Meredith is 4 1/2 months. We have been feeding cereal for one week. I was going to wait until she was 6 months, but she would just study us while we ate and she would even chew when we chew. I tried cereal and she loves it

magoo · December 16th, 2003, 09:42 PM

We gave Anna cereal just shy of 6 months, and she was up at night screaming on the nights that we gave it to her. (3 times, every other day) We waited a couple of weeks, and then she was fine. Every baby is different, and you know what is right. If bf is going well and you're both happy, then there's no reason to replace breastmilk (that's still so important, and still best for her right now) with cereal.

Stay strong. I had pressure from MIL which is why we started before 6 months, and I totally regret it now. Now Anna's eating a lot of table foods and MIL is trying to feed her raw carrots and FIL wants to give her raisins... it never ends...

Sarah

olcott · December 16th, 2003, 09:46 PM

Trey started on cereal EARLY because of his reflux...he started real solids around 3 months, at the advice of our doctor

Rene · December 17th, 2003, 04:01 AM

I have never started solids before 6 months.

Mandy · December 17th, 2003, 07:41 AM

We started cereal a few days before my DD turned 6 months old. She started fruits & veggies about a week 1/2 later.

RobynB · December 17th, 2003, 09:16 AM

We waited until 6 months. I thought about doing it at five months (on ped's suggestion) but I decided to wait and I'm glad I did because she was so ready when we did start. You have to make your own decisions but I know what's like to be pressured by the ILs especially if you're BFing. I'm posting a link to the AAP position paper on recommended breastfeeding practices. In it it states that BM is all that's needed for optimal nutrition for the first six months. Once I told my ILs that I was following the medical recommendations by not giving her solids yet they shut up. Hope it helps with yours too.

http://www.aap.org/policy/re9729.html

Tamara · December 17th, 2003, 11:45 AM

We started Brendan at 5 months but it wasnt regular untill he was about 6 1/2 months. With Rebecca Its All going to depend on when she starts being interested

Mandi · December 17th, 2003, 01:51 PM

I hope it didnt' come off like I thought there was somethign wrong with starting early. I started my first daughter on cereal at 4 months and she loved it. I guess since I had such trouble with bf'ing my first & so many challenges this time with it too that now that bf'ing is going well I don't see any reason to mess with that just yet.

Well thanks for your advice/opinions ladies.

I'll definitely be sticking to my guns and not listening to any comments my family might have. I'll be starting Melayna on solids after her 6 month apt.

JenM · December 18th, 2003, 08:52 AM

Good for you! Our Pedi pushed us to start Zoe on solids at her 4 month appt... We still ended uop waiting a few weeks. I think your baby is the one to decide when they are ready by their reaction to it. In other words... if she keeps pushing it out/gagging/etc... its probably not time. Thankfully, my DD did great with it at 4 1/2 months... but I will probably wait until at least 5 months with this next baby. Of course... it'll depend on how she's eating otherwise.... gaining weight and all that.

December 14th, 2003, 09:01 AM	#1
Mandi Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 14,413	When did you start solids? Just curious when everyone started solids? Melayna is 5 months old now and I still haven't started her on solids yet. I plan on holding out until she's 6 months old. I'm bf'ing this time and things are going so well I don't see a need to push solids yet. We're going to Indiana to visit family for Xmas and I already know I"m going to hear comments from my Aunt about how she should already be eating solids. She runs a daycare and thinks that all kids should start on cereal by 3 months. I know I'll have to jusitfy my reasoning to her which is going to tick me off. __________________

December 14th, 2003, 11:35 AM	#2
britt Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 44	My first started on solids at 4 months.. my second will probably be the same. But who knows.. McKenna eats alot more than Marissa did so it may be sooner.. But I think what ever works for you is the way to go! That ticks me off that people seem to think that they can tell you how to raise your child.. you'd think you know what you are doing.. seeing as how you have two. Hope your trip goes with out any flack! Last edited by britt : December 14th, 2003 at 12:29 PM.

December 17th, 2003, 01:51 PM	#19
Mandi Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 14,413	I hope it didnt' come off like I thought there was somethign wrong with starting early. I started my first daughter on cereal at 4 months and she loved it. I guess since I had such trouble with bf'ing my first & so many challenges this time with it too that now that bf'ing is going well I don't see any reason to mess with that just yet. Well thanks for your advice/opinions ladies. I'll definitely be sticking to my guns and not listening to any comments my family might have. I'll be starting Melayna on solids after her 6 month apt. __________________

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December 14th, 2003, 12:20 PM	#3
kris10 Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ontario Posts: 171	I agree with Britt. You'll know when your baby is ready. Kenna was eating 8 oz bottles every 2 hours at 3 months! So we put her on cereal but if she hadn't I probably would have held off for a few more months. Most importantly do what you're comfortable with.

December 14th, 2003, 02:18 PM	#4
KeriS Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 95	Davis started solids at 4 months at the advice of the ped -- because he was HUGE and BFing way too much for my comfort You have to do what is right for YOUR child -- a lot of people are waiting longer to start solids and that is just fine!!

December 14th, 2003, 02:57 PM	#5
Nocona . Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 13,212	Matthew started at 4 months, but you know that he was a big ole boy. If she's doing well on the BM and obviously she's gaining weight, it's not a big deal.

December 14th, 2003, 03:01 PM	#6
Faye Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 221	I started Emily on cereal mixed with formula at 2 months old, but just a couple of spoonfuls a day, nothing major. She started baby food around 5-6 months old. Then was on table foods (what we were eating) half the time by age 9 months and baby food half the time. She was eating solids almost completely by a year old. I may have kept her on baby foods too long but I thought it was easier until that point.

December 14th, 2003, 03:38 PM	#7
LoriS Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Clermont Florida Posts: 621	We started My first on cereal juat after 3 months, but I think we will wait a little longer with Courtney. At her 2 month visit her ped said we would discuss it at her 4 month appointment.

December 14th, 2003, 04:48 PM	#8
Dennis . Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 19,604	We started Joe at 6 months. Dennis

December 14th, 2003, 06:22 PM	#9
Cori Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 60	I started Ally just shy of 4 months. I had people telling me to give her cereal at 2 and 3 weeks. I just felt like screaming at them to SHUT UP. I eventually just started telling people that she was eating solids at night just to get them to leave me alone.

December 14th, 2003, 08:10 PM	#10
Marcella My baby started kindergarten! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 718	We started Amelia on cereal just over 5 months. My mom was driving me CRAZY about starting cereal when she was only 2 months!

December 14th, 2003, 11:35 PM	#11
Kim22 Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: southeastern WI Posts: 2	We started Sydney on cereal at 4 months, and fruits and veggies at 6 months. I'm going to do things differently next time, probably starting with something other than rice cereal (no nutrition in it).

December 15th, 2003, 12:38 PM	#12
scruzin Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Northern Arkansas Posts: 75	Meredith is 4 1/2 months. We have been feeding cereal for one week. I was going to wait until she was 6 months, but she would just study us while we ate and she would even chew when we chew. I tried cereal and she loves it

December 16th, 2003, 09:42 PM	#13
magoo Living on Wisteria Lane. Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 11,389	We gave Anna cereal just shy of 6 months, and she was up at night screaming on the nights that we gave it to her. (3 times, every other day) We waited a couple of weeks, and then she was fine. Every baby is different, and you know what is right. If bf is going well and you're both happy, then there's no reason to replace breastmilk (that's still so important, and still best for her right now) with cereal. Stay strong. I had pressure from MIL which is why we started before 6 months, and I totally regret it now. Now Anna's eating a lot of table foods and MIL is trying to feed her raw carrots and FIL wants to give her raisins... it never ends... Sarah

December 16th, 2003, 09:46 PM	#14
olcott Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Riverdale, NE Posts: 2,453	Trey started on cereal EARLY because of his reflux...he started real solids around 3 months, at the advice of our doctor

December 17th, 2003, 04:01 AM	#15
Rene Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 29	I have never started solids before 6 months.

December 17th, 2003, 07:41 AM	#16
Mandy Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 284	We started cereal a few days before my DD turned 6 months old. She started fruits & veggies about a week 1/2 later.

December 17th, 2003, 09:16 AM	#17
RobynB Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Canton, MI Posts: 30	We waited until 6 months. I thought about doing it at five months (on ped's suggestion) but I decided to wait and I'm glad I did because she was so ready when we did start. You have to make your own decisions but I know what's like to be pressured by the ILs especially if you're BFing. I'm posting a link to the AAP position paper on recommended breastfeeding practices. In it it states that BM is all that's needed for optimal nutrition for the first six months. Once I told my ILs that I was following the medical recommendations by not giving her solids yet they shut up. Hope it helps with yours too. http://www.aap.org/policy/re9729.html

December 17th, 2003, 11:45 AM	#18
Tamara Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Mojave Desert Cal. Posts: 291	We started Brendan at 5 months but it wasnt regular untill he was about 6 1/2 months. With Rebecca Its All going to depend on when she starts being interested

December 18th, 2003, 08:52 AM	#20
JenM Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: already 3 months old!!! Posts: 1,048	Good for you! Our Pedi pushed us to start Zoe on solids at her 4 month appt... We still ended uop waiting a few weeks. I think your baby is the one to decide when they are ready by their reaction to it. In other words... if she keeps pushing it out/gagging/etc... its probably not time. Thankfully, my DD did great with it at 4 1/2 months... but I will probably wait until at least 5 months with this next baby. Of course... it'll depend on how she's eating otherwise.... gaining weight and all that.